Packers' Keisean Nixon now says he
remains open to possibility of returning kickoffs
[June 04, 2025]
By STEVE MEGARGEE
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon
remains open to the possibility of returning kickoffs and says he
regrets comments he made immediately after the 2024 season
indicating otherwise.
Nixon, an All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, said the day
after the Packers’ 22-10 playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles
that he’s “kind of through with” returning kicks. Nixon had a
different take on the subject Tuesday while speaking during the
Packers’ organized team activities.
“Of course, I’m open to it,” Nixon said. “I’m always going to do
what the team needs.”
Nixon’s reluctance about returning kicks stemmed in part because of
his increasing role on defense. Nixon said at the time that “I want
to be CB1” and added that “CB1 is not doing kick returns. That’s
just what it is.”
“That’s a comment I probably could have kept to myself, for sure,
but it is what it is,” Nixon said Tuesday. “I meant what I said, but
I’m also a team player. And if the coach and the team need me to do
something, I’m going to do it, for sure.”
Nixon also wasn’t happy with the impact of the dynamic kickoff
format that took effect last season. Nixon averaged 29.3 yards on 18
kickoff returns in the 2024 regular season and fumbled the opening
kickoff of that playoff loss. He had 35 kickoff returns in 2022 and
30 in 2023.
NFL owners voted to move touchbacks on kickoffs from the 30 to the
35 this season, but Nixon has doubts about whether that will lead to
more returns. He believes teams still won’t want to risk the
possibility that he makes a big play.
“The rule change don’t matter,” Nixon said. “I don’t think they’ll
fully kick me the ball. They’d rather (us) get it at the 35 than
give it at the 50.”
The Packers have other options to return kicks. Green Bay added
former Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who has 45
career kick returns and 89 punt returns. The two receivers Green Bay
drafted – Matthew Golden in the first round and Savion Williams in
the third – had experience returning kicks in college.
Nixon wants to build on what he accomplished on defense last year.
His role expanded when two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander
played just seven games because of injuries to his knee, quadriceps
and groin. Alexander remains on Green Bay’s roster, but isn’t
present for organized team activities as his future with the team
remains uncertain.
“I love to play with Jaire,” Nixon said. “That’s just what it is
since I’ve been here. Jaire pushed me to be really who I am because
it’s always friendly competition between me and him. Whatever
happens, happens. We don’t have control over that. If he’s here,
we’re going to rock out. If he’s not, we’re still going to rock
out.”
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Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) during an NFL
football practice Wednesday, May 28, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP
Photo/Mike Roemer)
Whether or not Alexander plays for the Packers this
season, Nixon figures to have major responsibilities on defense
again. After most of his previous defensive snaps came as a nickel,
Nixon showed an ability to adapt to a new assignment last year.
“To his credit, he’s shown a lot of versatility, you know, in terms
of how we’ve used him in the past, switching him from inside to
outside,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “I think he did a lot of great
things last year, primarily playing on the outside.”
The 27-year-old Nixon believes he still has plenty of room to grow
as he enters his seventh NFL season since he played so little
defense early in his career. Nixon started his career with Oakland
in 2019 and never played more than 15% of the Raiders’ defensive
snaps in any of his three seasons with them before joining the
Packers in 2022. He played 94.1% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps last
season.
“I don’t feel like I’m an old guy yet,” Nixon said. “I’m in year
seven, but my body feels like I’m on year four. Because with the
Raiders, I don’t feel like I was really on the team, for real. I was
just making money, I guess. It’s just what it was. When I got here,
I feel like I was a rookie.”
NOTES: DL Kenny Clark said he underwent surgery on his right foot
after the season as he dealt with bunions and bone spurs. Clark, who
has been limited in OTAs, says he injured the foot during the
Packers’ season-opening loss to the Eagles in Brazil. … DL Lukas Van
Ness said he wore a full cast up until “about week 10 or 11” while
playing with a broken right thumb last year.
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